ITF Stories--from the amateurs playing the senior circuits - Tennisopolis : Tennis Social Network2016-12-09T15:58:27Zhttp://tennisopolis.com/forum/topics/itf-stories-from-the-amateurs-playing-the-senior-circuits?commentId=1869403%3AComment%3A967758&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI've been to the USTA Nationa…tag:tennisopolis.com,2012-10-21:1869403:Comment:9677582012-10-21T15:04:23.422ZGary Sakumahttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/GarySakuma
<p>I've been to the USTA Nationals--where they break you into round robins-- 17 sections of the USTA--you play four other regions--top four advance to a semis. That's fun but hard to party until you're out because it's a team thing. ITF is individual plus you play one match a day--you know the early round are easier, but at the USTA--it's by NTRP the matches are tough.</p>
<p>I've been to the USTA Nationals--where they break you into round robins-- 17 sections of the USTA--you play four other regions--top four advance to a semis. That's fun but hard to party until you're out because it's a team thing. ITF is individual plus you play one match a day--you know the early round are easier, but at the USTA--it's by NTRP the matches are tough.</p> Partying and playing tennis d…tag:tennisopolis.com,2012-10-08:1869403:Comment:9629922012-10-08T07:20:25.054ZTim Praponghttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/TimPrapong
<p>Partying and playing tennis don't mix too well. :)</p>
<p>Sounds like the ITF system is better than the USTA system. What do you think, Gary?</p>
<p>Partying and playing tennis don't mix too well. :)</p>
<p>Sounds like the ITF system is better than the USTA system. What do you think, Gary?</p> The Grades in ITF tournaments…tag:tennisopolis.com,2012-10-06:1869403:Comment:9627612012-10-06T22:26:00.478ZGary Sakumahttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/GarySakuma
<p>The Grades in ITF tournaments are the cool thing. Thailand has a Grade 2 tournament in Pattaya to be held on November 19-26. Last year, it was besieged by a bunch of first round walk overs. If you saw Hangover 2, perhaps that could be true or maybe not. First, the heat is pretty tough. It's easily 35 C or 92 F with oppressive humidity. Second, Pattaya doesn't sleep so if you want to you can find a party until the sun rises and continues. A certain Aussie told me he had slept 12 hours…</p>
<p>The Grades in ITF tournaments are the cool thing. Thailand has a Grade 2 tournament in Pattaya to be held on November 19-26. Last year, it was besieged by a bunch of first round walk overs. If you saw Hangover 2, perhaps that could be true or maybe not. First, the heat is pretty tough. It's easily 35 C or 92 F with oppressive humidity. Second, Pattaya doesn't sleep so if you want to you can find a party until the sun rises and continues. A certain Aussie told me he had slept 12 hours in the past four days, but he did make it to the quarterfinals. A Frenchman once partied there for three days straight. It's that kind of a town. The courts are nice with two facilities. Royal Cliff is very, very slow while Siam Bayshore is faster and shadier. Winning one round at a Grade Two is like winning a Grade Five. The key to your ranking is to play the higher grades. By winning two rounds at this tournament, it pushed me up to a top 300 ranking. So look around and see if you can find the higher grade tournaments. Hope to see you in Pattaya</p>